Verified:GitHub

cold-open-creator

Creates a compelling story from ambient audio by selecting and ordering the most dramatic moments of a podcast, then converting them into a short teaser for airing at the beginning of broadcasts.

9|2|Updated Feb 4, 2026

Search Tags:#narrative #scriptwriting #podcast #audio production #hook #cold open

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/cdeistopened/content-os --skill cold-open-creator

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: cold-open-creator
Source: https://github.com/cdeistopened/content-os/tree/main/skills/writing/cold-open-creator
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/cdeistopened/content-os --skill cold-open-creator

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill creates engaging podcast cold opens (25-35 seconds) that immediately hook listeners by dropping them into a specific, impactful moment that encapsulates the episode's themes, rather than summarizing.

Core Features & Use Cases

Scene Selection: Identifies the most compelling moment from an episode's transcript.
Narrative Rearrangement: Uses only cutting and rearranging of existing dialogue to build dramatic tension and curiosity.
Use Case: For a podcast episode about overcoming a major business failure, the cold open might start with the guest saying, "I was terrified... I thought I was going to lose everything," then cut to a moment of realization, and end mid-thought, leaving the listener desperate to know how they got there and what happened next.

Quick Start

Use the cold-open-creator skill to generate a compelling cold open for the podcast episode transcript.

Frequently Asked Questions about cold-open-creator

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I create a podcast cold open from an episode transcript?▼

To create a podcast cold open, you select and rearrange verbatim clips from an episode transcript to build a narrative arc of setup, character, conflict, stakes, and tease. This process uses only cutting and rearranging existing dialogue to hook listeners instantly.

What is the ideal length for a podcast intro hook?▼

The ideal length for a podcast intro hook is 25-35 seconds total, with each selected verbatim clip running 3-8 seconds. This strict timing constraint ensures the cold open ends on a cliffhanger without dragging.

How does narrative rearrangement work for audio production?▼

Narrative rearrangement in audio production involves selecting existing dialogue clips and reordering them to construct a dramatic narrative arc. By cutting and rearranging verbatim transcript clips, you build tension and curiosity without introducing new audio.

Can I use this scriptwriting approach to summarize a podcast episode?▼

No, this scriptwriting approach specifically avoids summarizing by dropping listeners into a specific, impactful moment that encapsulates the episode's themes. It generates a 25-35 second cold open that ends mid-thought to leave listeners desperate to know what happens next.

What are the limitations of building a cold open using only existing dialogue?▼

The main limitation of building a cold open using only existing dialogue is that you cannot add new narration or voiceovers to bridge gaps. You must rely entirely on cutting and rearranging verbatim transcript clips, which requires precise scene selection to maintain a coherent narrative arc.

Does the cold-open-creator skill need a full episode transcript to work?▼

Yes, the cold-open-creator skill requires a full podcast episode transcript as input data. It analyzes the transcript to identify the most compelling moments and selects verbatim clips to construct a 25-35 second narrative arc ending on a cliffhanger.